Dear Richi Sunak

[CarolineFields]

I have been a teacher for 30 years, and have at different times been head of department and head of year. Unfortunately, as a mother, it was impossible for me to full fill these roles because of the workload, so I resigned from both.

I made sacrifices to support my child through state school and university

I couldn't afford to replace my glasses, the prescription I used was 5 years out of date.

I have one pair of school shoes, and because I can't afford the bus, and walk 5 miles to school several times a week, I leave my shoes at school, because if they wear out I won't be able to replace them

I used a 10 year old asthma inhaler rather than pay the prescription charge for a new one.

The cats and I shared one heated vest under a duvet rather than turn on the central heating

I save a little bit by charging my phone and laptop from a camping style solar panel - I don't know how much this actually saves, but it must be something, right?

Holidays were camping, by public transport, off peak.

I am middle income, middle class, and consider myself reasonably comfortably well off- no serious worries about housing or food, as so many people suffer with daily.

I have never, in my wildest dreams considered the ludicrous and insane extravagance of taking out a sky tv subscription.

I understand that to some people this is a top priority, as football is such a crucial aspect of our countries cultural life. People who do take this out, will be making massive cuts elsewhere

I am very sorry, but I cannot begin to understand where you are coming from, believing that missing out on sky TV is some sort of sacrifice or deprivation.

I am stunned. I am gobsmacked. I can't take it in. I don't know what to say. I am reeling. I am so shocked. I don't know what it would have been possible to say to alienate me more than what you have just said.

I am sorry. I am struggling to articulate the depth of my astoundedness. It is like my soul can't absorb the words and gags on them. Its like a soul emetic

I will be voting Tory - not because I like them, but because they are promising things that will affect me positively (tax cuts, raising stamp duty limit) and Labour's policies will affect me negatively (VAT on private schools). Plus, Labour is a party with deeply rooted antisemitism. Also, Starmer has always been and continues to be completely incompetent.

@TuesdayWhistler LOVING the use of chinny reckon! With accompanying hand gesture I hope?

My prescription glasses cost about £300 as well. Due to the high prescription, the lenses have to be thinned out. This costs a lot of money. They are still not completely thinned out as the prescription is so high

Some of us have complex eye issues. I can't just buy a cheap £10 pair of glasses. I have nystagmus in one eye. The glass has to be thicker in that lense then the other. Plus other issues. I am sure OP is allowed to moan.

On the offchance this is real

GLASSES
Go to Asda! I'm serious. I don't know how much my glasses would be elsewhere. 20 years ago they were £400 from vision express. Cheaper but still expensive from Specsavers. Asda look at your prescription then give you the add ons you need for free. That's for astigmatisms, variofocals, very high lenses etc. I got 2 pairs for £120, but they do far cheaper as well.

SOLAR PANEL
This is obviously ridiculous, and make me wonder about the rest of your post. Your solar panel that has been going for decades can power a device that either wasn't invented at the time, or is powered by a connector that wasn't invented. Absent a time machine, you are not powering a phone via a decades old anything!

Rishi is an absolute idiotic and completely out of touch, but you are making about as much sense as he is at the moment.

Asda.
Honestly they must have saved me thousands over the years!

This is one of the most ludicrous comments I've ever read on here 😅

I don't think you are middle class if you are struggling as you say.

I live in one of the most poorest parts of the country where the average wage is £23k and don't know anyone who's charging their phone with solar panels.

Unless you have a huge mortgage or other expenses you haven't disclosed this doesn't add up.

well, I will certainly look at asda next time I get glasses, but I have shopped around in the past, and even taking my prescription on line saves only about £5-£10, and then when you think you don't get personal fitting, and cant pop back into the shop to have them tightened or loosened slightly, etc, it seemed like a false economy. I bought new glasses last year, and have popped back twice to get them readjusted lightly

As your post has not yet been removed, I'll bite

Unfortunately, as a mother, it was impossible for me to full fill these roles because of the workload, so I resigned from both.
Why "as a mother" ?

I made sacrifices to support my child through state school and university
We all do...

I couldn't afford to replace my glasses, the prescription I used was 5 years out of date.
Its £20/£25 for a test

I have one pair of school shoes, and because I can't afford the bus, and walk 5 miles to school several times a week, I leave my shoes at school, because if they wear out I won't be able to replace them

I used a 10 year old asthma inhaler rather than pay the prescription charge for a new one.
£9.90 for a new prescription
Or you can buy Ventolin Inhaler Online £7.49 - Asthma
Ashcroft Pharmacy
www.ashcroftpharmacy.co.uk › online-doctor

Also - if its lasted you 10 years, maybe you dont actually need one as you are not using it bery much? let alone it still being effective when 9 years out of date

The point is, bloody Sunak considering himself deprived
So this is the point, why bother with all the other shite first.

Youve been a teacher for 30 years, you're not on minimum wage - why are you so skint you cannot afford new shoes?

I am surprised that people are commenting on my solar panel! I will have a look at the make later, right now it is charging in an upstairs window. it just sits there, and I plug my phone into it, but it is hanging from a handle at the top, and the leads hang down, so I would have to get a chair to stand on to find out the make and anything about the manufacter. It just stays there all year, except when we go camping it folds down quite small

Not patronising. Observational.

I am staggered by the lack of empathy / sympathy here.

Op I totally get what you're saying. I see my child's teachers (single mum) & shudder at the thought of how hard it must be for her.

A professional role such as a teacher ad enable a decent standard of living. In 2024 it clearly does not.

I hear you op.

I feel for you op.

Vote the Tories out.

Or you can go to a food hub, of which there are many around

Sad story.
I would spell his name correctly though.
I hate it when white people can’t be arsed to spell or pronounce my name properly. Idiots!

I don't know about the other stuff, but glasses are not cheap. My most recent pair cost almost £500 from Specsavers because of my prescription. They are only cheap if you have a very straightforward, single vision prescription.

I'll just jump on the bandwagon too.

Single mother since my daughter was 3. She's is now 17. No maintenance from father for first 12 years of her life. None whatsoever now because he's dead.

I earn far, far less than a qualified teacher.
I pay rent and council tax and utilities.
I have tv subscriptions.
I run a car.
I have a monthly prescription for anti-depressants.
I have a monthly contact lens subscription.
I can buy shoes and clothing.
Neither myself or my daughter are undernourished (quite the opposite in my respect!) and we both have mobile phones.

I think Sunak was scrabbling round for an answer - any answer - because he was put on the spot by the interviewer.

I will not be voting Tory because I loathe them.

My glasses cost me £500!

OP is correct, even if some people thing she is a biy hyperbolic. Sacrifice isnt not having a Sky Sports package. If Rishi Sunaks parents send each of their 3 children to top ranking public schools, that £90k a year! There isnt a Sky package on the planet that would cost that!

It's badly off

Asda 😀

Sure - thats the takeaway

It is in the southwest of England. But Wales is another country.

How could you take holidays off peak as a teacher 🤔